S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Bessent Says U.S. Must Strengthen Supply Chains and Economic Security 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Malaysia Central Bank Moves to Support Ringgit Amid Foreign Fund Outflows 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
U.S. stock index futures edged lower Monday evening following a strong regular session rally driven by technology stocks, while oil prices eased slightly amid ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East. S&P 500 Futures slipped 0.2% to 6,745.0, Nasdaq 100 Futures dropped 0.2% to 24,844.0, and Dow Jones Futures declined 0.2% to 47,207.0 around 8:24 PM ET.
Earlier in the session, all three major benchmarks posted solid gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.8%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.0%, and the Nasdaq Composite surged 1.2%, with technology stocks leading the charge. Chipmakers were among the top performers after Nvidia's annual developer conference drew significant investor optimism. CEO Jensen Huang projected up to $1 trillion in cumulative orders for its Blackwell and Vera Rubin AI systems through 2027, boosting confidence across the semiconductor sector.
Easing crude oil prices also supported equities during the regular session, offering some relief after a prolonged surge tied to escalating Israel-Iran tensions. However, the conflict's third week kept markets on edge, as continued threats to shipping lanes and energy infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global oil transit corridor — raised supply concerns. President Donald Trump confirmed that a proposed coalition to protect oil tankers through the strait remains under discussion and has not been finalized.
Looking ahead, investors are closely watching the Federal Reserve's policy announcement scheduled for Wednesday. The Fed is broadly expected to hold interest rates steady as policymakers weigh persistent inflation risks against geopolitical headwinds. Markets will pay close attention to updated economic forecasts and any commentary from Fed Chair Jerome Powell regarding the timeline for potential rate cuts. On the earnings front, Lululemon Athletica and DocuSign are set to report quarterly results Tuesday, adding another layer of market interest to an already event-heavy week.
